More Fantastic Superhero Goodies

Posted on May 24, 2018 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

Vintage Superhero Toys and Merchandise Galore. Part 2. Courtesy of The Superhero Book of Goodies, issue 2, 1977.

TVTA’s previous post, part one, is here

In part two we look at clothing and household goods. From T-shirts to toothbrushes, flashlights to wrist radios, beach towels to bean bags, belts, bedding, school supplies, puzzles and much more!

Your Favourite Stars and Heroes On T-Shirts

Poster Parade

Beach Towels

Bean Bags and Bedding

Belts and Rings

Marvel Mood Rings and Batman Talking Alarm Clock

Sensational Socks and Star-Studded Sweat-Shirts

Super School Supplies

Comic Book Savers, Enforcer Sets, Ghost Rider Stunt Cycle and Marvel Banks

Superhero Puzzles

Look out for the third and final part of this series coming soon, in which we take a look at a few goodies from the Mego corporation. As always, thanks for looking 🙂

Sources: The Superhero Book of Goodies Issue 2, 1977, scanned by TVTA.

Vintage Superhero Toys and Merchandise Galore …

Posted on May 12, 2018 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

… courtesy of The Superhero Book of Goodies catalogue, issue 2, 1977, with cover drawn by Joe Kubert.

The Superhero Book of Goodies was the colourful product catalogue for Ivan Snyder’s New Jersey-based mail order and retail store company Superhero Enterprises, later known as Heroes World. The company was a leading US comic book and merchandise distributor from 1975 until its demise in 1997 following its buy-out by Marvel comics.

We don’t need another hero

The catalogues featured the company’s very own superhero mascot – ‘Our Superhero’, sometimes referred to as ‘Snyderman’, and were produced in conjunction with Joe Kubert’s School of Cartoon and Graphic Art.

Some famous comic book names below that were former students. But can you spot the future famous TV zombie holocaust survivor?

Name the Superhero contest … did this happen?

So was he called Our Hero or Snyderman? If not then what name? Who won the competition? Did issue 3 tell us? Do you have issue 3? Can you enlighten us? Argh, so many questions!

As well as handling Marvel and DC products, the company advertised a small range of goods for film and TV franchises such as Star Trek, Star Wars, Space 1999, Planet of the Apes, The Bionic Woman, The Six-Million Dollar Man and others. As seen by just the handful of scans we’ve taken from issue 2 so far, the catalogues – and not forgetting the numerous full page adverts found across hundreds of comic titles, feature a range of items from toys to household goods to stamps, stationery, badges, patches, clothing, posters, books and comics and much more. Let’s take a look at some, as TVTA enters the delightful and colourful world of The Superhero Book of Goodies…

Spidey Utility Belt, Superman Postcards, Marvel and DC Superbaby Rag Dolls

Mego Super-Heroes

Have yourself a Rock Party!

Marvel and DC stamps, Star Trek goodies

Super-Friends Hall of Justice play set, Wonder Woman toys

Superhero Shooters and Shields

More shields and Ricochet Racers Spider-Man set

Enter the World of Marvel

Superhero Mirrors

Batman toys

Batman Grappling Hook, Batman Bat Plane with Launcher, Batman Corgi toys

Board Games, Painting and View Master

Marvel Dart Board, Spidey Squirt Gun, Spidey Plane

Patches

And lastly, badges

Part 2 to come soon, featuring more Superhero goodies. Thanks for looking 🙂

Sources: The Kubert School. Wikipedia. Gone and Forgotten. Consulted 12/05/18, and The Superhero Book of Goodies Issue 2, 1977 scanned by TVTA.

DC Mail-away toys

Posted on December 21, 2015 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

These hand-drawn adverts for mail-order toys, games, stamps and books were common to see in DC comic publications throughout the 1970s. In a similar style to the Heroes World adverts of the same era, the drawings are often fun and simplistic versions of the characters and toys they are meant to represent.

US. Superman 296. 1976.

US. Jonah Hex. 1978.

US. The Witching Hour. 1977.

Show the world your underoos! And… why Han(s) Solo hates Heroes World!

Posted on December 5, 2013 by The Vintage Toy Advertiser

TVTA advises you to not show the world your Underoos… certainly not while you’re still wearing them anyway. However, we do advise everyone to ‘Hulk up’ with ‘The Incredible Hulk Instant Muscles’.

Grrrrr! Rarrrr!

Welcome to the wacky world of Heroes World adverts…

Heroes World Underoos and Hulk Up Instant Muscles. USA. Marvel Star Wars. 1979.

I love the US mail-order Heroes World Superhero Merchandise ads… they merrily appeared throughout hundreds of comic titles with their unique style, not worrying one bit if they went awry with character likeness or if they misspelt a character’s name (mostly Han Solo and Darth Vader from what I’ve seen – even by 1980 they were still calling Han Hans). Heroes World advertised a diverse range of merchandise and toys for various Marvel / DC heroes, Star Wars, KISS, and other titles. Wacky? You bet!

Star Wars